Fans bring course to life at Dick's Open

A mass of fans crowd around one of the late holes at the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open on Saturday. The attendance between Friday’s Zac Brown Brown and Saturday’s record-breaking 59 by Kevin Sutherland has been strong.(Photo: Jeff Miller / Contributed Photo)

As the books close on the 2014 Dick's Sporting Goods Open, the fans might be the real winners.

The Zac Brown Band concert, a record-setting round by Kevin Sutherland and a fantastic finish on Sunday all contributed to an entertaining weekend at En-Joie Golf Course.

"This was my first year coming to the event and I was impressed," said John Kozlowski, 33, of Windsor, who has been to all three rounds with his two sons Johnny, 6, and Andrew, 5. "Obviously Saturday was very exciting and we were lucky to have a front-row seat on No. 17 to watch almost get a hole-in-one.

"The whole atmosphere during his time on the back 9 felt like the final pairings were coming through the finish on Sunday. It was incredible."

Sutherland set a Champions Tour single-day scoring record by shooting a 59 on Saturday. He had a chance to set a North American major tour record but missed a 7-foot par putt on No. 18 and settled for a bogey.

The Champions Tour event has a three-day-party feel to it because of the energetic crowds that come to the course. The annual Friday concerts draw a young crowd and is a good way to get that demographic to the golf course. If those fans then came again on Saturday, they got a treat.

"It might not be the PGA Tour but it's still incredible and a historic accomplishment," said Brad Reynolds, 27, of Johnson City, who brought his wife, Maryanne, with him to the concert on Friday. "We caught the last few groups coming through 18 as we were waiting for the concert to begin and it was fun stuff. It reminded me of golfing with my father when I was young so my wife and I decided to come back (Saturday) since we had no plans."

After the final groups tee off on No. 9, the clubhouse area becomes a party deck with dance music and live bands performing.

"It may not be the most ideal for strict golf enthusiasts but it's definitely fun if you have young children; it keeps them occupied," Kozlowski said.

Beth Bryant, 57, of Vestal, said the cooler temperatures actually made the event more enjoyable.

"When you're walking around deep into the course that sun can beat down on you, so although the clouds have been out a lot this weekend it's kind of been a relief," Bryant said. "The wind was a little bothersome in the mornings but once it warmed up the weather was very pleasant."

On Friday temperatures stayed in the 60s and on Saturday they peaked at about 75 degrees. Early-morning rain on Saturday meant a cool Sunday morning but temperatures rose into the mid-70s as the day wore on.

HUNGRY CROWDS

The crowds at En-Joie Golf Course had a craving for spiedies as usual at the Dick's Sporting Good Open.

Lupo's Spiedies co-owner Sam Lupo estimates his staff has cooked 2,700 pounds of the 3,000 pounds of chicken spiedie meat they brought with them for the event.

Lupo's brought 6,000 pounds of meat (chicken, pork, sausage and chicken breast) with them for the tournament and Sam Lupo said about 5,500 pounds had been used. Lupo's does not provide the hot dogs sold at the event.

Lupo said the numbers are down slightly from last year, but not by much.